¿qué quieres ver?
The English phrase "what do you want to watch?" is translated into Spanish as ¿qué quieres ver?
The verb ver means "to watch" in this context, though the verb mirar can also mean "to look at" or "to watch".
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "what do you want to see?" because the verb ver (to see) is used to express the act of watching in this context.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter ¿Qué te gustaría ver? which translates to "What would you like to watch?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, it is common to use the verb ver (to see) instead of mirar (to watch) when asking this question.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿qué quieres ver? uses the "tú" conjugation, which is appropriate for singular individuals who are friends, family or peers. To be polite or formal when addressing one person, use ¿qué quiere ver? If you are addressing a group of people, use the plural form ¿qué quieren ver?
Did you know?
- The verb ver in this phrase is a distant linguistic cousin to the English words 'wit' and 'wise'. Both share a common ancestor that relates to the concept of seeing or perceiving.
- The word qué descends from the Latin quid, which is the same root used in the English phrase 'quid pro quo'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the response to ¿qué quieres ver? might involve a lengthy group negotiation rather than a single choice.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué programa de televisión deseas ver?What TV show do you desire to watch?
- No sé qué quiero ver.I don't know what I want to watch.
- Ya es tarde, ¿qué quieres ver?It's late already, what do you want to watch?
- Tengo muchas películas, ¿qué quieres ver?I have many movies, what do you want to watch?
Example conversation
A couple sitting on the sofa on a Friday night.
- MaríaTengo el control remoto, ¿qué quieres ver?I have the remote, what do you want to watch?
- MateoNo lo sé, ¿qué hay de nuevo?I don't know, what's new?
- MaríaHay una serie nueva muy buena.There is a very good new series.
- Mateo¡Perfecto! Vamos a ver esa.Perfect! Let's watch that one.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qué, ver, CC BY-SA 4.0.
